ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — A Turkish court on Monday delayed a verdict in a case seeking the annulment of an internal leadership election of the country’s main opposition party over alleged irregularities, a decision that could restore the party’s unpopular former leader and inflame political tensions.
The court in Ankara adjourned the trial over the legitimacy of the 38th congress of Republican People’s Party, or CHP, until Oct. 24. The congress in 2023 ousted long-time leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu and elected current chairman Ozgur Ozel.
The case alleges electoral fraud including buying votes and procedural violations. The CHP has denied the accusations, describing the legal action as a politically motivated attempt by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's government to undermine the opposition thr